In 1969 on this date, a test flight of the Soviet N-1 ‘moon rocket’ failed when one of its rocket motors exploded. The engines were shut off and the vehicle exploded when it fell back to the pad. Launch Pad 110 East was destroyed, along with a slight Soviet hope of upstaging the US Apollo… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: July 2, 2021
Tonight at 10 pm, you will find the constellation Scorpius in the south. The bright orangish red star in the constellation is called Antares. This is an example of a red super giant star.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: July 1, 2021
On this date in 1955, two successful ‘Rockoon’ launches were conducted. Two ‘Loki’ rockets, supplied by US Army Ordnance, were lifted on balloons from shipboard off the coast of Greenland; at altitude, they were remotely fired and launched into space. The rockets were a part of cosmic ray studies by a State University of Iowa… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: June 30, 2021
Today is the 181st day of the year. Our year is 365.2421 days long. Compare that to Pluto, which takes 248 years to orbit the Sun.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: June 29, 2021
On this date in 1971, the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 11 returned from orbit. When the hatch was opened, however, it was found that the crew had perished due to a loss of cabin atmosphere. A pressure equalization valve had opened prematurely during re-entry, causing the loss of all three cosmonauts: Georgy Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov, and… Continue reading
Science of the Zodiac Combines Aha Moments with the Science of the Stars Above
Support science for our future. Make a gift to the the Science Center’s Annual Fund to help fund educational programs in the community. “Science of the Zodiac is our newest live star show produced at the McDonnell Planetarium,” says Will Snyder, Manager of the McDonnell Planetarium at the Saint Louis Science Center. Science of the… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: June 27, 2021
In 1960 on this date, a decision was made to choose one Mercury production spacecraft for extensive ground testing as a complement to the Mercury reliability program. The test environment would involve vacuum, heat, and vibration conditions. This test series was later designated ‘Project Orbit.’
Astronomy Fact of the Day: June 26, 2021
Tonight you can find the Big Dipper high in the Norwest by 9:30 pm. The Big Dipper is an asterism that is part of the constellation known as Ursa Major.
Night Sky Update: June 25 – July 3, 2021
This is the Saint Louis Science Center’s NIGHT SKY UPDATE for the week of Friday, June 25, 2021. Information updated weekly or as needed. Times given as local St. Louis time, which is Central Daylight Time (CDT). For definitions of terminology used in the night sky update, click the highlighted text. If relying on times… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: June 25, 2021
On this date in 1894, Hermann Julius Oberth, the “Father of German Spaceflight,” was born. His seminal 1923 book, outlining the mathematic principles of rocketry and space travel, provided the basis for the space craze in Germany, leading to the V-2 and Wernher von Braun’s rocket team. You can read NASA’s official biography of Oberth… Continue reading